Discouraged over my lack of progress
I haven't really talked much anywhere other than on Facebook about my ongoing struggles with diabetes. What is so frustrating is that most of the places and blogs you'll see online are the people with the magnificent success stories of how they beat diabetes, mostly all with a low carb healthy fat eating plan. I think it's easy to get the idea that everybody in the world is successful and that you are the only "failure" at controlling your glucose with diet and exercise. At least that's my understanding today.
It occurs to me that in the diabetes and LCHF websites, there's some of the same "follow the money" and "fake it 'til you make it" sort of BS as you'll find in the Make Money Online biz. I'm getting rather jaded, I know, so I'll stop right there and just leave that observation.
I've been battling diabetes for a very long time - many, many years - with various ups and downs, sometimes seemingly unrelated to my eating.
This year, after a stressful but successful (because we made it to the bonus by completing the entire season) stint at the now closed Coffeyville Amazon fulfillment center, I started eating a low carb diet again, as that's what I'd had the most success with in previous incarnations of my eating patterns.
So I've completed 16 weeks of experiments now, writing down my foods, and glucose readings. I started keeping a food diary in addition to the glucose readings in a document on my computer at the 8 weeks mark, and this morning I reviewed my progress ... or lack thereof.
The successes ...
The Failures ...
Conclusions ...
What's next? I'm not totally sure yet, but I think maybe blogging about diabetes and sharing links here would do better than just sharing in Facebook all the time.
A lot depends on what happens with my upcoming job (crossing my fingers I get the one I want), my husband's health (his eye surgeries were a success and he can drive again next week!) and whether or not I can figure out a living arrangement for my disabled adult son that doesn't require him to live with us. You know, same old same old. These are the same problems I've been wrestling with for the past 20 or so years.
It occurs to me that in the diabetes and LCHF websites, there's some of the same "follow the money" and "fake it 'til you make it" sort of BS as you'll find in the Make Money Online biz. I'm getting rather jaded, I know, so I'll stop right there and just leave that observation.
I've been battling diabetes for a very long time - many, many years - with various ups and downs, sometimes seemingly unrelated to my eating.
This year, after a stressful but successful (because we made it to the bonus by completing the entire season) stint at the now closed Coffeyville Amazon fulfillment center, I started eating a low carb diet again, as that's what I'd had the most success with in previous incarnations of my eating patterns.
So I've completed 16 weeks of experiments now, writing down my foods, and glucose readings. I started keeping a food diary in addition to the glucose readings in a document on my computer at the 8 weeks mark, and this morning I reviewed my progress ... or lack thereof.
The successes ...
- I can now fast for 20 hrs between meals without suffering
- My glucose is stable with small variances only between 180 and 200 without medications.
- I'm eating less - my food diary shows that clearly
- I've had only one "off plan" meal in 4 months.
The Failures ...
- My weight hasn't dipped below 202.5 in 4 months
- My glucose remains way too high at 180-200
- I lack the "wonderful success story" that others get from just giving up white sugar, flour and breads.
- I am feeling frustrated by my lack of progress.
Conclusions ...
- I need to get more exercise despite knowing that diet is more than 85% of the cure; exercise is the best way to get glucose out of my muscles and liver.
- I'm going to have to experiment with giving up all artificial sweeteners for awhile. NOT wanting this!
- A 20 hr fasting time is probably not long enough for me, but I'm not quite ready to extend it yet.
- I may need to break down and read some of these books I can buy on Amazon (will add titles at the bottom, and they will be affiliate links so you have been warned).
- I've had some of my best glucose readings when I've eaten the least amount of vegetables, so the next logical experiment is to go veggie free and see how that affects me.
- The scales are not a good indicator of progress, so I should have taken photos and measurements when I started this, because I can see/feel changes in my body, just not dramatic or easily quantifiable.
What's next? I'm not totally sure yet, but I think maybe blogging about diabetes and sharing links here would do better than just sharing in Facebook all the time.
A lot depends on what happens with my upcoming job (crossing my fingers I get the one I want), my husband's health (his eye surgeries were a success and he can drive again next week!) and whether or not I can figure out a living arrangement for my disabled adult son that doesn't require him to live with us. You know, same old same old. These are the same problems I've been wrestling with for the past 20 or so years.
Books I am interested in reading - I do not yet have these, so I am not saying they are good, only that I am interested in reading them.
The book most recommended by Butter Bob on Facebook is Eat Stop Eat by Brad Pilon - not available on Amazon yet, but obtainable via the Clickbank Marketplace.
One thing that bothers me is that Eat Stop Eat is only available on Clickbank, and honestly, I don't have a lot of confidence in ANYTHING sold on that marketplace ... despite having been an affiliate for many years. I've only ever found 2 or 3 things that I could feel OK putting my name to and promoting. You know, that old ethics thing. However ... I am seriously thinking about buying this one from the Butter Bob link because it's the only one he's recommending ... so if/when I get around to getting my own copy, I will review it. In the meantime, that link is MY affiliate link mainly so I can find it again when I need to. I tend to lose things and forget exactly where I put them, so this is more for my benefit than anything else. I can't recommend it yet, having not read it myself.